Annulments

Annulments in Cranberry Township, PA

In Pennsylvania, parties may choose to end a marriage through either an annulment or a divorce. While divorce is the most common, it is important to determine whether an annulment is an alternative option

Annulments are available in a very limited amount of circumstances. An annulment is a legal declaration that the marriage never existed, this differs from a divorce, which is a legal declaration that the marriage is over. There are two types of annulments, those that are “void” and those that are “voidable”.

A void annulment may be granted in situations such as:
  • Where a party was married previously and entered into a new marriage without obtaining an annulment or divorce of the first marriage;
  • If the parties entering into marriage are related within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity;
  • If a party is unable to consent to the marriage due to insanity or serious mental disorder; or
  • If either party to a purported common-law marriage was under the age of 18.

A voidable annulment may be granted in situations such as:
  • If either party to the marriage was under 16 and court authorization was not obtained;
  • Where either party was 16 or 17 and did not have parental or court consent;
  • Where either party was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and the action is filed within 60 days following the ceremony;
  • Where a party is impotent and the other party was not aware prior to marriage; or
  • Where a party was induced to be married by fraud, duress, coercion or force attributable to the other party and there has been no voluntary cohabitation following the knowledge of the fraud or after the fraud, duress, coercion or force has been removed.

If you wish to discuss obtaining an annulment or to schedule an initial consultation at the Myers Law Group, LLC, call 724-778-8800 or email Jeffrey@jpmyerslaw.com.
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